Control-switch for electric lamps.



E. KEEN. CONTROL SWITCH FOR uecmc LAMPS.

Patanted Sept. 4, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG- 4. N5. 1,239,275.

ELIOT/(551V BY mm VIM A TTORNEIS E. KEEN.

CONTROL SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

APPLICAIIOH mm mam I915.

1,239,275. Patented Sept 4,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TILI- PI.

WITNESS m m/ TOR /g EL 10 T If f E N rim A rronwsrs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIo'r KEEN, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssIcNon T0 WILLIAM r. DUNHAM,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

C01lTROL-SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS Application filed August 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELIOT KEEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control-Switches for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a switch for controlling a plurality of electric lamps. More particularly my invention relates to a switch for controlling a plurality of lamps or a plurality of groups of lamps in such a way that any number of lamps or groups of lamps may be cut in or out of circuit at will.

The ob ect of my invention is to provide a switch of the character and for the purpose specified capable of controlling a given number of lamps or roups of lamps in such a way that any esirednumber of lamps or lamp groups up to the maximum may be thrown into circuit by the progressive operation of a single main controlling. member, the number of lamps or groups of lamps thrown into circuit being proportional to the extent of movement of said member; lamps or groups of lamps are similarly cut out of circuit. by the reverse movement of a single member; the same member may serve both for throwing in and cutting out, if desired.

My invention may be embodied in a variety offorms, but preferably I construct it so that in appearance andmode 'of operation it resembles the conventional wall push switch of the known art.

My invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 to 4 represent one form, of the invention and Figs. 5 to 9 a modified form ofthe invention.

Referring to the first form of the invention, Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the switch with cover plate removed; Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal elevation, part section, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a transverse section, part elevation, taken along the line 3 3 of- Fig. 1;,and Fig. 4 is a v1ew,.similar-t0 Fig. 2, showing the contact or switch membercom trolling the first, lamp thrown into circuit.

Referring to thesccond form of my invention, F ig. 5 represents a vertical longitudinal sectlon'along the line5 5 of Fig. 8; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the several contact members in the posi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sa -11.4, 191'7.

Serial No. 43,547.

tion which they will have just before the first lamp is thrown into circuit; Fig. 7 is a transverse section, part elevation, looking from below, along the line 77 of Fig.6; Fig. 8 is a front view of the switch with cover plate removed; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the main controlling member with its attached push buttons.

Describing the first form of my invention, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the switch mechanism is contained in a rectangular casing 1, provided with a metallic overhanging cover plate 2, as usual in known wall switch construction. This casing may be made of porcelain and partly of slabs suitably screwed together, or may be given the form of an integral porcelain box; in the latter case some changes of mechanical detail will be required in order to assemble the various parts. Instead of porcelain any other usual insulating material, such as vulcanized fiber, bakelite or the like may be employed.

The particular switch shown in the drawing is intended to control four individual lamps or groups of lamps. Mounted upon a fixed transverse shaft 3, supported by the sides of casing 1, are four similar switch members 4. These switch members are constituted of straight rocker bars or stems provided at one end with a lineally slidable sleeve 5, carrying a terminal contact wheel 6, pivotally mounted in an open slot in the end of said sleeve. To insure the free, slidable action of sleeve 5, without binding, said sleeve carries atie strip 6, fixed to a short guide sleeve 7, ,slidably fitted to the main stem of members, on the other side of the bearing 3. A spiral spring 7', is interposed between the sleeve 5, and the hub of the contact member.

The inner end wall of casing 1, adjacent to the wheel 6, is convened inwardly being given the shape Ofa series of inverted Vs and in the limbs of the We nearest thecover plate are recessed, contact strips .8, one for each contact member. Preferably the insulating casing is provided with partitions 9. between said contact strips, so as to insulate the various s. I

The opposite lateral walls of casingl, are slotted interiorly on opposite sidesof the shaft 3, and in a direction normal tothe cover plate2, and in each pair of opposite slots is disposed a throw bar 10 comprising opposite slides fitting the slots and connected by a stem 10, the diameter of which varies in steps from one end to the other, the number of steps corresponding with the number of contact members. Preferably, this stepped stem is formed by placing a number of tubular segments having the required diameters upon a straight stem, the tubular segments being loosely fitted so as to be free to turn. To the center of the throw bars are attached push buttons 11-11' which project through holes in cover plate 2. The two stems 10' are identical but reversed in direction.

In a partitioned recess 12, at one end of the casing are attaching strips 13, corresponding to the contact strips 8, and connected respectively thereto by screws 14.

The lamps '15 to 18 inclusive, are connected at one end through the lighting source to the shaft 3, and each lamp is connected at its other end to one of the strips 13, by a clamp screw 19, in the usual way.

The contact strips 8, are successively shorter from left to right (Figs. 1-3) the corresponding limb or section of the inverted V on which each strip is mounted being correspondingly shorter.

The operation of the switch is as follows:

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom or wheel ends of switch member 4, are all at the bottom of the casing resting upon the porcelain limbs of the several inverted Vs so that the lamps are all off. If, now, the button 11 be pushed inwardly, the largest diametered step of throw bar 10, (left hand side of Fig. 1) will strike the end of its switch member 4, earlier than the other steps of the stem will strike their switch members and the first switch member will be pivotally turned, forcing its wheel 6, to wardthe apex of the V against the compression of its spring 7 The instant the wheel passes over the apex the sleeve 5 will be forced outwardly by spring 7, and the lower end of the switch member will be forced along its contact strip 8 to the end adjacent the cover plate (extreme right as shown in Fig. 4), thus putting lamp 15 in circuit. If button 11 be pressed a little farther inwardly the wheel 6, of the second switch member will similarly pass the apex of its V and throw the second lamp into circuit. Similarly the third and fourth lamps may be successively thrown into circuit. To reverse the action and throw the lamps out of circuit, push 11' is similarly operated. The fourth lamp will be cut out first, then the third, and so on in succession.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, the switch members 4, are here shown as being pivoted at their inner end, the contact strips 8, and

the inverted Vs being on the bottom of the box instead of the end. The switch members are thrown by means of a rocker member 20 (shown in perspective in Fig. 9) pivotally mounted upon the same axis as the switch members 4, and controlled by push buttons connected by links 21, t0 the rocker member. This rocker member has the form of a tubular segment provided with a central longitudinal slot, the opposite edges of which are provided with complementary steps 22, corresponding in function with the steps of the stem 10 (Figs. 1-4). The lamps are connected to the respective contact strips and to the shaft 3, as in the first form of my invention.

The operation of this modification of my improved switch is similar to that of the form first described. The lamps being all out of circuit, as shown in Fig. 5,the button 11 is pushed inwardly thus bringing the lowermost step of the upper half of the tubular segment of rocker member 20, in contact with the first (bottom, Fig. 7) switch member and carrying it toward its contact strip. Just as the first switch member is about to make contact and ride over the apex of its V the condition of affairs is as shown in Fig. 6. The first switch member is forced by its compression spring 7', to the bottom or outer end of the contact strip as soon as it has passed the apex of its V. Further pressure upon the button 11 will similarly cause the second switch member to close the circuit of the second lamp and so on for the third and fourth lamps. The lamps are successively cutout of circuit by suitable pressure upon the push 11, which first brings the uppermost ste of the lower half of the tubular segmento the rocker arm in contact with the switch member last thrown into circuit; the second and following stcpsof the segment are brought into contact with their respective switch members one after the other as pressure continues to be exerted upon the push 11'.

Referring to the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be noticed that not only is the stem 10 arranged in steps so as to act upon the switch members successively but that the contact strips 8 are successively shorter so that each switch member must be thrown through a greater angle before contact is made. It will also be observed that the several inverted Vs corresponding to the several switch members occupy as a whole positions successively in advance of one another angularly so that each switch member passes the apex of the V under the same spring pressure and finally rests on the outer extremity of the contact strip under the same spring pressure. While I preferably combine these several features of successive advance for each switch member, it is not necessary to t e operation of my invention that they be 0 combined. Thus in the forms shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive the contact strips are all of the same length and the inverted Vs are arranged strictly in line and side by side, thus securing the successive'action of the switch members entirely through the steps of 10. It is clear that with this arrangement of VS and contact strips it is not necessary to adhere to the specific form of rocker member and that many other forms, including the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 4-. inclusive, may be substituted within the spirit of the invention. Or various other changes in the relative arrangement of parts may be adopted within the spirit of the invention to secure the advantages thereof.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In combination, a casing one inner side wall of which has the form of a plurality of adjacent inwardly projecting Vs, contact strips upon similar limbs of the several Vs, switch members pivotally mounted upon a shaft opposite to the VS and parallel to the limbs thereof said members bein adapted to be rocked in planes which inclu e the Vs so as to contact their ends with the aforesaid contact strips or not as the case may be the members bein resiliently contractible between the sha t and said ends, and a single control member operatively connected with each switch member and adapted to successively rock said switch members.

2. In combination, a casing one inner side wall of which has the form of a plurality of adjacent inwardly projecting Vs, contact strips upon similar limbs of the several Vs, switch members pivotally mounted upon a shaft opposite to the Vs and parallel to the limbs thereof said members being adapted Coples of this patent may be obtained (or to be rocked in planes which include the Vs so as to contact their ends with the aforesaid .contact strips or not as the case may be the members being resiliently contractible between the shaft and said ends, and a movable control member having a plurality of steps corresponding to the several switch members the axis of the control member being always parallel to the aforesaid shaft and the steps being adapted to successively throw the switch members.

3. In combination, a casing one inner side wall of which has the form of a plurality of adjacent inwardly projecting Vs, contact strips upon similar limbs of the several Vs, switch members pivotally mounted upon a shaft opposite to the Vs and parallel to the limbs thereof said members being adapted to be rocked in planes which include the Vs so as to contact their ends with the aforesaid contact strips or not as the case may be the members being resiliently contractible between the shaft and said ends, and a reversible movable control member having two sets of parallel but reversed steps the members of each set corresponding to the several switch members the axis of the control member being always parallel to the aforesaid shaft and the steps being adapted to successively throw the switch members in direct or reverse order according to the direction of movement of the control member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ELIOT KEEN. Witness:

ELMER GWIEL YOUNG.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

